Saw palmetto as hair loss herbal supplement for males, one of the ten top herbal supplement

Although not necessarily a plus for some people, saw palmetto was first recognized in the late 1800s after an American homeopath witnessed wild animals that ate the berries, gained considerable weight despite a summer drought. Soon after, another homeopath claimed that eating saw palmetto berries on a regular basis would actually increase the size of women’s breasts. In 1879, J.B. Read, a Georgia physician, published a paper in the American Journal of Pharmacy on the clinical effectiveness of saw palmetto. He stated that the herb could sooth the mucous membrane, thereby inducing sleep and relieving coughs. He also claimed the berries to have incredible diuretic properties and, would improve digestion, increase fat and overall strength in patients.

This fan palm, or Sabal serrulata as it is sometimes called, is native to the southeastern states, particularly South Carolina to Georgia and from Texas to Florida. Naturalized in other countries now, Saw Palmetto is a common sight growing in sand dunes of the coastal Caribbean. The plant was named after its ‘saw-tooth’ stems that form at the base of each lush green leaf. It can be quite a large palm, reaching up to 10 feet in ideal climates. The flowers of the saw palmetto are quite pretty and bear yellowish seeds reminiscent of olives, which when ripe, turn almost black. Once dried, they are regularly used for their medicinal properties.

The majority of commercial harvesting takes place in Florida where millions of acres of wild saw palmetto are taken off the plant during the hot humid months from August to September. It is a daunting job at best; apart from the blazing sun and painful cuts the sharp leaves often inflict, workers must also compete with the Eastern Diamond Back rattlesnake that has made the cool shade of the palm leaves a favorite resting spot.

By the early 20th century the berries, when used in a tea, were recognized as a highly effective treatment for urinary tract problems in men. Although not proven, it was also clamed that using saw palmetto berries would boost sex drive and sperm count.

By 1926, mention of the plant was made in the United States Dispensatory, stating the herb was especially useful in cases of enlarged prostate. By the 1930s in Europe, saw palmetto became a widely accepted treatment for bladder, prostate and urethra irritation. In fact today, Germany’s Commission E (the equivalent to the FDA) lists saw palmetto berries as proven treatment for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), an ailment according to statistics that affects 50 percent of aging males. Although BHP is not cancer, it is a situation in which the prostrate gland slowly enlarges, eventually narrowing the urethra opening, causing urine to back up, and ultimately resulting in severe irritation and possible infections.

One 1996 study, published in the medical journal, The Prostate, involved 1,098 patients from either France, Scotland, England, Italy, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Greece, Switzerland, Slovakia or the US. All patients suffered from BPH and were given either a commercial saw palmetto extract called Permixon ® or Proscar® (finasteride), a conventional drug currently used for BPH. Results showed that after 26 weeks, both treatments relieved symptoms of BPH in two-thirds of all patients. Improvement was shown in areas that include frequent urination, delayed urination, dripping after urination and frequent night waking to urinate.

However, it has also been shown that those receiving Proscar® also experienced a reduction in the size of the prostate gland, where those taking the saw palmetto did not. On the other hand, those receiving the saw palmetto did not endure side effects such as decreased libido and impotence, those using the conventional drug did. The study led researchers to conclude that saw palmetto is just as effective as drug therapy in treating symptoms of BPH, and without the unwanted side effects.¹

Ironically, in 1998, after much success with the prescription drug Propecia®, (a popular hair growth drug, which also contains finasteride), many companies began marketing saw palmetto to promote hair growth. There is no clinical evidence however, that saw palmetto will work in this capacity. The drug Proscar earlier used as treatment for prostate enlargement, was later approved by FDA in 1998 for the Medical hair loss restoration in MPHL

The effectiveness of the saw palmetto herbal extract is most likely a result of a fat-soluble steroid called liposterol, which was identified in an extract of the berries. Studies indicate that the liposterol reduces the amount of a particular form of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which binds to the androgen cells responsible for enlarging the prostate.²

A further German study confirmed the larger international study, proving that over a three-year period, men taking 160mg of saw palmetto herbal extract twice daily, experienced a 73 percent reduction in nighttime urination and significant improvements in urinary flow.³ According to research, saw palmetto herbal extract improves bladder conditions such as urinary urgency because of its anti-spasmodic properties. Similar to the actions of such drugs as Hytrin ® it helps to ease the muscles of the sphincter, alleviating pressure and the need to urinate.

Saw Palmetto is quickly gaining a reputation in the west as a possible anticarcinogen. Used for years in China, a popular cancer treatment, called PC-SPES, which contains saw palmetto, is making its way into the North American market. Some health professionals recommend this herbal treatment for men who have not responded to traditional therapies such as prescription drugs, radiation or surgery, but the FDA warns that PC-SPES may contain prescription drugs that are not labeled as ingredients and as such, may have unknown side effects.⁵

As early research indicates Saw Palmetto does have anabolic steroid properties, meaning it strengthens and builds tissue while increasing weight mass. For this reason, it is often used for those who are failing to thrive or are wasting away from illness.

Currently, Saw Palmetto is number six on the list of Top 10 herbal supplements. To date, apart from its use in the past as a treatment to enlarge breast tissue, there are really no proven benefits for women, but some herbalists claim the herb is useful as a reproductive tonic for women, increasing energy and libido. As well, they state it will increase milk flow in lactating women and prescribe it for painful menstruation and ovarian pain. In theory, this is likely because of Saw Palmetto’s estrogenic properties, which are also responsible for some of the benefits men experience when using the herb for prostate conditions.

Saw Palmetto can be purchased as a tincture, capsule, tablet, softgel or dried herb. Saw Palmetto is also an important constituent of traditional Chinese hair care products. for male hair loss restoration.

For assured quality and health benefits, always make sure the product contains 85-95 percent of fatty acids and sterols. Unfortunately, ConsumerLab.com did a study and found that only 63 percent of the products on the market are actually standardized to this amount, so it is important to look at the label before purchasing.

The usual recommended dosage of saw palmetto for early-stage BPH is 160 mg of the berry extract twice daily for at least 30 days. It is also good to note that although using Saw Palmetto may work faster than prescription drugs, it could take as long as 6-8 weeks for any positive effects to be felt. To date, there are no known significant side effects however, to minimize any stomach upset or possible diarrhea, it is best to take the supplement with meals.

References:

1. Carro, J-C. et al. 1996, “Comparison of Phytotherapy (Permixon ® with Finasteride in the Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Randomized International Study of 1,098 Patients”. Prostate, 29: 213-240, 1996
2. Di Silverio F, Monti S, Sciarra A, et al, “Effects of long-term treatment with Serenoa repens (Permixon®) on the concentrations and regional distribution of androgens and epidermal growth factor in benign prostatic hyperplasia”, Prostate 1998;37:77–83.
3. Bach D, Ebeling L. Long-term drug treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia—results of a prospective 3-year multicenter study using Sabal extract IDS 89, Phytomedicine, 1996;3:105–11
4. Gerber GS, Zagaja GP, Bales GT, Chodak GW, Contreras BA, “Saw Palmetto (Serennoa repens) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: effects on urodynamic parameters and voiding symptoms”, Urology,1998 Jun: 51(6): 1003-7.
5. Small EJ, Frohlich MW, Bok R, et al “A prospective trial of the herbal supplement PC-SPES in patients with progressive prostate cancer”, J Clin Oncol. 2000;18(21):3595-3603.